FIRST BASE

FIRST BASE

Wire photos

St. Louis was dealt a blow in early September when Allen Craig went down with a foot injury, but Matt Adams, left, stepped in and the team barely skipped a beat. Adams, though, is hitting .268 (11-for-41) with one homer and four RBIs in the playoffs. Craig should be ready to go against the Red Sox, but will likely be relegated to DH duty. Mike Napoli, right, had a terrific year at the plate, swatting 23 home runs to go along with 92 RBIs. He's carried that big stick into the postseason and hit a pair of huge home runs for the Red Sox in the ALCS. Even more impressive was the way Napoli played in the field, as he led all first basemen in UZR. Still, Napoli may find himself on the bench when the series shifts to St. Louis, as Boston manager John Farrell may try to get David Ortiz's bat into the lineup. EDGE: RED SOX

St. Louis was dealt a blow in early September when Allen Craig went down with a foot injury, but Matt Adams, left, stepped in and the team barely skipped a beat. Adams, though, is hitting .268 (11-for-41) with one homer and four RBIs in the playoffs. Craig should be ready to go against the Red Sox, but will likely be relegated to DH duty. Mike Napoli, right, had a terrific year at the plate, swatting 23 home runs to go along with 92 RBIs. He's carried that big stick into the postseason and hit a pair of huge home runs for the Red Sox in the ALCS. Even more impressive was the way Napoli played in the field, as he led all first basemen in UZR. Still, Napoli may find himself on the bench when the series shifts to St. Louis, as Boston manager John Farrell may try to get David Ortiz's bat into the lineup. EDGE: RED SOX

(Wire photos)

St. Louis was dealt a blow in early September when Allen Craig went down with a foot injury, but Matt Adams, left, stepped in and the team barely skipped a beat. Adams, though, is hitting .268 (11-for-41) with one homer and four RBIs in the playoffs. Craig should be ready to go against the Red Sox, but will likely be relegated to DH duty. Mike Napoli, right, had a terrific year at the plate, swatting 23 home runs to go along with 92 RBIs. He's carried that big stick into the postseason and hit a pair of huge home runs for the Red Sox in the ALCS. Even more impressive was the way Napoli played in the field, as he led all first basemen in UZR. Still, Napoli may find himself on the bench when the series shifts to St. Louis, as Boston manager John Farrell may try to get David Ortiz's bat into the lineup. EDGE: RED SOX